Roof seam bearing clip

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a hold down clip for connecting a roof panel to an insulated roof structure comprising rigid insulation. In the roof structure, the rigid insulation sits atop the purlin  30 . The hold down clip has several functions. First, it joins adjacent roof panels. Second, it holds the roof panels down by fastening them to the underlying purlin. It also, keeps the rigid insulation sandwiched between the roof panel and the purlins.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a roof seam clip. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a roof seam clip with an integral bearing plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large bay structures, such as warehouses, commercial, institutional, and industrial typically have large areas of floor surface, with spaced-apart support columns, and high roofs. The support columns connect to long span roof supports, known as purlins. Large roof panels, typically made of metal sheeting or panels, sit on the purlins, as cladding to enclose the structure. Adjacent roof panels interlock together at edges to form seams. This is accomplished by mechanically seaming the panels together, such as by folding and crimping edges portions to form standing seams, or by snapping interlocks together.

The seam is formed above the plane of the roof to prevent leakage. Hold-down clips connect spaced apart relation to the purlins. The hold-down clips have hook-like projecting members that receive edges of the opposing roof panels. In some known roof systems, the hook-like projecting members foldingly engage and crimp with the roof members to secure the roof members to the purlins. In other systems, the adjacent opposing roof panels define matingly engagable connections. The hold-down clips however have portions that connect with the hook-like projecting members to the roof panels.

In roofing systems that require insulation, it is common to use rigid insulation boards. Since the roof panels exert an enormous amount of force onto the hold down clips, it is necessary to spread the forces over a greater area than that of the hold down clips to avoid compressive failure of the rigid insulation. In order to accomplish this, it is common to place the hold down clips onto a separate bearing plate, which enlarges the contact point surface area. The issue with using a separate bearing plate concerns additional material cost, manufacturing costs, and installation costs.

Accordingly there is a need in the art for providing improved sliding hold-down clips for connecting roof panels to purlins in large bay buildings. It is to such that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a hold down clip for connecting a roof panel to an insulated roof structure comprising rigid insulation. In the roof structure, the rigid insulation sits atop the purlin. The hold down clip has several functions. First, it joins adjacent roof panels. Second, it holds the roof panels down by fastening them to the underlying purlin. It also keeps the rigid insulation sandwiched between the roof panel and the purlins.

In one aspect, the hold down clip comprises a clip tab and a clip base. The purpose of the clip tab is to join adjacent roof panels. The purpose of the clip base is to secure the hold down clip and the roof panels to the purlin without causing compressive failure of the rigid insulation.

In one aspect, the clip tab comprises a planar upright body, a hook portion integral with the top end of the body that is configured to join adjacent roof panels, and a planar leg integral with the bottom end of the body that extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the body. Additionally, in this aspect, the hold down clip also comprises a base configured to slidingly receive and retain a portion of the leg. The base has a predetermined bottom surface area configured to distribute forces generated by the roof panels over a sufficient portion of the insulated roof structure to prevent compressive failure of the rigid insulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain aspects of the instant invention and together with the description, serve to explain, without limitation, the principles of the invention. Like reference characters used therein indicate like parts throughout the several drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hold down clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1, showing a plurality of holes defined in a hook portion of the clip tab.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1, showing a top flange and a bottom flange of the clip base, the right side being a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1, showing the clip tab and the clip base.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1 as it is installed on a building.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hold down clip of FIG. 1 as it is installed on a building, showing the rigid insulation board and the underlying purlins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention and the Examples included therein and to the Figures and their previous and following description.

Before the present systems, articles, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to specific systems, specific devices, or to particular methodology, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known embodiment. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the invention described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a clip” includes two or more such clips, and the like.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention relates to a hold down clip 10 for connecting a roof panel 15 to an insulated roof structure comprising rigid insulation 20. In the roof structure, the rigid insulation 20 sits atop the purlin 30, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The hold down clip 10 has several functions. First, it joins adjacent roof panels. Second, it holds the roof panels down by fastening them to the underlying purlin 30. It also, keeps the rigid insulation sandwiched between the roof panel 15 and the purlins.

In one aspect, the hold down clip comprises a clip tab 100 and a clip base 200. The purpose of the clip tab 100 is to join adjacent roof panels. The purpose of the clip base 200 is to secure the hold down clip and the roof panels to the purlin without causing compressive failure of the rigid insulation.

In one aspect, the clip tab comprises a planar upright body 110, a hook portion 120 integral with the top end of the body that is configured to join adjacent roof panels, and a planar leg 130 integral with the bottom end of the body 110 that extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the body. Additionally, in this aspect, the hold down clip also comprises a base configured to slidingly receive and retain a portion of the leg 130. The base has a predetermined bottom surface area configured to distribute forces generated by the roof panels over a sufficient portion of the insulated roof structure to prevent compressive failure of the rigid insulation 20. The surface area should be enough to prevent compressive failure, but small enough to permit recessing the base below the surface of the rigid insulation. Accordingly, in one aspect, surface area of the base is in a range of from about 5 in² to about 20 in². In another aspect, it is in a range of from about 7 in² to about 15 in². In yet another aspect, the surface are of the base is about 8 in². One skilled in the art will appreciate the necessary surface area as prior art hold down clips experience the same issue. However, in prior art hold down clips a separate bearing plate was necessary to increase the surface are of the clip enough to prevent compressive failure of the rigid insulation. In the present invention, there is no need for a separate bearing plate, as the base of the hold down clip is configured to act as a base and a bearing plate in one.

In another aspect, the base comprises a top flange 210 and a bottom flange 220, and wherein a first end portion 212 of the top flange 210 is connected to and substantially collinear with a first end portion 222 of the bottom flange 220, whereby the top flange and bottom flange define a slot 230 for complimentary receipt of at least a portion of the leg of the clip tab. In one example, the top flange and the bottom flange are configured to form a friction fit with at least a portion of the leg of the clip tab 100. As such, another advantage of such a system includes ease of installation. There is no need for the installer to use two hands to keep the hold down clip and the bearing plate in place.

In one example, a second end portion 214 of the top flange 210 extends a first distance D₁ from the first end portion 212 of the top flange and a second end portion 224 of the bottom flange extends a second distance D₂ from the first end portion 222 of the bottom flange 220. In this aspect, as can be seen in the accompanying figures, the second distance D₂ is greater than the first distance D₁ such that the second end portion 214 of the top flange and the second end portion 224 of the bottom flange are in spaced relation. In one aspect, the distance between the second end portion of the bottom flange and the second end portion of the top flange is equal to or greater than the length L of the leg 130 of the clip tab. This relationship facilitates easy installation and removal of the clip tab into the slot 230 defined between the top flange 210 and the bottom flange 220.

In one aspect of the invention, a portion of the base defines at least one base opening 240 configured for receipt of a fastener to fasten the hold down clip 10 to the roof structure. Generally, there are two, but that depends upon the size of the hold down clip, as well as the size of the fastener. Accordingly, in one aspect, a portion of the leg of the clip tab defines complimentary clip tab opening(s) 140 that, in use, are configured to be at least partially coaxial with the base opening 240 s. As one skilled in the art can appreciate, any conventional roofing fastener may be appropriate, although in most instances, a threaded screw is used.

In one aspect in which the clip base comprises a top flange and a bottom flange, a portion of the top flange of the base defines at least one top flange opening 250 and a portion of the bottom flange of the base defines at least one bottom flange opening 260. As mentioned above, it would be common to have two top and bottom flange openings 260. In this aspect, the respective top and bottom flange openings are configured for receipt of a fastener to fasten the hold down clip to the roof structure. As such, the top flange openings 250 are at least partially coaxial with the bottom flange openings. Accordingly, in this aspect, a portion of the leg of the clip tab 100 defines at least one leg opening that, in use, is configured to be at least partially coaxial with the respective top and bottom flange openings 260.

In some instances, thermal expansion and contraction, as well as manufacturing tolerances, make it desirable to allow some movement within components of the hold down clip 10. As such, in one aspect, the leg opening is elongated in a first direction Y₁ that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis L_(L) of the leg 130 of the clip tab. In another aspect, the leg opening is elongated in a second direction X₁ that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction Y₁. In yet another aspect, the width of the leg opening in the first and second directions is greater than the diameter of the top flange opening of the base. In still another aspect, the bottom flange opening 260 is elongated in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis L_(B) of the base.

In another aspect, the second end portion 224 of the bottom flange comprises a raised lip 226 that extends generally upwardly and outwardly from a generally planar central portion of the base. This raised lip assists in the installation process. In use, the installer may use this as a guide to determine how far to recess the hold down clip into the rigid insulation. Additionally, it provides another grip point for the hold down clip to keep it stable on the insulation 20. In one aspect, the distal end of the lip 226 extends in a range of from about 0.2 to 0.6 inches above the plane of the central portion of the base. In another aspect, at least a portion of the lip has a curved shape in cross-section.

As mentioned herein above, the clip tab comprises a hook portion 120 integral with the top end of the body that is configured to join adjacent roof panels. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, in use, the hold down clip 10 is inserted such that at least a portion of the clip base extends under the end portion of the first roof panel 15, whereby the hook portion of the clip tab 100 matingly receives a curled up portion of the end of that first roof panel. Then, a curled down portion of the second, adjacent roof panel (not shown) is wrapped over the top of the hook portion 120 and under the underside of the hook portion, mating with the curled up portion of the end of the first roof panel. In this procedure, it is usually necessary to use an adhesive substance (mastic, for example) to join and seal the respective ends of the adjacent roof panels. Accordingly, in one aspect, the hook portion of the clip tab defines a plurality of hook openings 122 to enable the adhesive to flow evenly across the seam.

Although several aspects of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other aspects of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific aspects disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention. 

1. A hold down clip for connecting a roof panel to an insulated roof structure comprising rigid insulation, the hold down clip comprising: a clip tab comprising: a planar upright body with a top end and a bottom end; a hook portion integral with the top end of the body that is configured to join adjacent roof panels; and a planar leg integral with the bottom end of the body that extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the body; and a base configured to slidingly receive and retain a portion of the leg, the base having a predetermined bottom surface area configured to distribute forces generated by the roof panels over a sufficient portion of the insulated roof structure to prevent compressive failure of the rigid insulation.
 2. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a top flange and a bottom flange, and wherein a first end portion of the top flange is connected to and substantially collinear with a first end portion of the bottom flange, whereby the top flange and bottom flange define a slot for complimentary receipt of at least a portion of the leg of the clip tab.
 3. The hold down clip of claim 2, wherein the top flange and the bottom flange are configured to form a friction fit with at least a portion of the leg of the clip tab.
 4. The hold down clip of claim 2, wherein a second end portion of the top flange extends a first distance from the first end portion of the top flange and a second end portion of the bottom flange extends a second distance from the first end portion of the bottom flange, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance such that the second end portion of the top flange and the second end portion of the bottom flange are in spaced relation.
 5. The hold down clip of claim 4, wherein the distance between the second end portion of the bottom flange and the second end portion of the top flange is equal to or greater than the length of the leg of the clip tab.
 6. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein a portion of the base defines at least one base opening configured for receipt of a fastener to fasten the hold down clip to the roof structure.
 7. The hold down clip of claim 6, wherein a portion of the leg of the clip tab defines at least one clip tab opening that, in use, is configured to be at least partially coaxial with the at least one base opening.
 8. The hold down clip of claim 2, wherein a portion of the top flange of the base defines at least one top flange opening and a portion of the bottom flange of the base defines at least one bottom flange opening, wherein the respective top and bottom flange openings are configured for receipt of a fastener to fasten the hold down clip to the roof structure, and wherein the at least one top flange opening is at least partially coaxial with the at least one bottom flange opening.
 9. The hold down clip of claim 8, wherein a portion of the leg of the clip tab defines at least one leg opening that, in use, is configured to be at least partially coaxial with the respective at least one top and bottom flange openings.
 10. The hold down clip of claim 9, wherein the at least one leg opening is elongated in a first direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the leg of the clip tab.
 11. The hold down clip of claim 10, wherein the at least one leg opening is elongated in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
 12. The hold down clip of claim 11, wherein a width of the at least one leg opening in the first and second directions is greater than a diameter of the at least one top flange opening of the base.
 13. The hold down clip of claim 11, wherein the at least one bottom flange opening is elongated in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the base.
 14. The hold down clip of claim 4, wherein the second end portion of the bottom flange comprises a raised lip that extends generally upwardly and outwardly from a generally planar central portion of the base.
 15. The hold down clip of claim 14, wherein a distal end of the lip extends in a range of from about 0.2 to 0.6 inches above the plane of the central portion of the base.
 16. The hold down clip of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the lip has a curved shape in cross-section.
 17. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein the predetermined surface area is in a range of from about 5 in² to about 20 in².
 18. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein the predetermined surface area is in a range of from about 7 in² to about 15 in².
 19. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein the predetermined surface area is about 8 in².
 20. The hold down clip of claim 1, wherein the hook portion of the clip tab defines a plurality of openings. 